The Indiana Supreme Court has suspended Knox County Bicknell City Court Judge David Andrew Moreland, effective immediately. The Indiana Commission on Judicial Qualifications filed a “Notice of Criminal Charges and Request for Suspension” with the Indiana Supreme Court on October 13, 2009. After reviewing the request, the Indiana Supreme Court immediately ordered Judge Moreland suspended.

The “Notice of Criminal Charges and Request for Suspension,” cause number 42S00-0910-JD-441 was filed by the Indiana Commission on Judicial Qualifications when the Commission learned the Knox County Prosecutor had filed five Class D Felony charges for Theft against Judge Moreland. Commission attorney, Adrienne L. Meiring, notified the Indiana Supreme Court that the felony charges had been filed and asked the Court to suspend Judge Moreland. In the notice, Attorney Meiring pointed to Admission and Discipline Rule 25 V, subsection A of the Indiana Rules of Court. According to the rule:

A judicial officer shall be suspended with pay by the Supreme Court...upon the filing of an indictment or information charging the judicial officer in any court in the United States with a crime punishable as a felony under the laws of Indiana or the United States.

After reviewing the Commission’s request, the Indiana Supreme Court ordered Judge Moreland suspended until further order of the Court. The Indiana Supreme Court will appoint a judge pro tem to fill the vacancy left in Bicknell City Court.

The announcement notes that the judge is not an attorney. (Mike Frisch)